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Rockies-Diamondbacks Preview

Jun 5, 2010 - 6:43 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (28-25) at Arizona (20-34), 8:10 p.m. EDT

If a walk-off win to end a lengthy losing streak isn't enough to bring some excitement to the Arizona Diamondbacks, they are hoping the addition of Dontrelle Willis will.

Willis makes his Diamondbacks debut Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.

Arizona (21-34) ended its 10-game losing streak Friday by scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 victory. The Diamondbacks' previous four losses had all ended with opponents scoring in their final at-bat before Ryan Roberts' pinch-hit single scored Chris Young with the winning run, allowing Arizona to celebrate at home plate for a change.

"We hadn't felt that feeling in a while," manager A.J. Hinch said, "and that was a perfect way to end the slide."

Arizona came to life after being held scoreless for 31 innings. Justin Upton snapped that drought with a two-run homer in the first inning and the Diamondbacks finished with 12 hits - their highest total since they had 14 on May 21.

The Diamondbacks traded for Willis on Tuesday, two days after he was designated for assignment by Detroit. The former NL Rookie of the Year, All-Star and 22-game winner was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance with the Tigers.

"He's had extreme success, he's had a period of struggles, and he's hopefully coming out of it," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "He's always been known as a big personality and we've encouraged him to be himself and breathe some life into this team, which we need."

Arizona also is excited about the fire the 28-year-old left-hander brings to the plate. Willis hit .286 in 2007 - his last full season in the NL with Florida.

"I'm just excited to get a fresh start," said Willis, 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies.

Starting Willis isn't exactly a gamble for a club that is ranked last in the majors with a 5.59 ERA. The Diamondbacks have an 8.58 ERA in losing four of seven to Colorado (28-26).

The Rockies, though, had five hits Friday and struck out a season-high 14 times.

"Actually we were trying to steal that game because we really didn't do a whole lot to win it," manager Jim Tracy said.

Willis has retired Carlos Gonzalez both times he's faced him, but the dynamic Rockies leadoff hitter homered for the fifth time against the Diamondbacks on Friday and is 12 for 24 with 12 RBIs against them.

Rockies rookie Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 3.62 ERA) takes the mound with a 1-3 record and a 6.14 ERA in his last four outings, but the win came over Arizona on May 25 as he gave up two runs over six innings in a 3-2 victory.

The right-hander made his season debut against the Diamondbacks on April 27 with an inning of scoreless relief in a 12-1 rout.

Chacin yielded four runs over 5 1-3 innings Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.